When we learned of a proposal to tear down the old Pasta House at 12425 Dorsett Road and rebuild, we thought it was an opportunity for positive change. We spoke too soon.

At the Planning Commission meeting on December 11, the engineer and lawyer representing developer Baldridge Properties, LLC, insisted on pushing forward with their initial, uninspired plan for a strip retail building.

You should know:

The old Pasta House is approximately 3,000 sq. ft.

The proposed new building would be 6,375 sq. ft.

To make the building fit on the property, there is only two feet of clearance on the east and west sides--not enough to comply with the city's landscaping code.

But there is enough room to provide 158% of the parking requirement.

Hmmm.

In response to a series of questions posed at the November 27 commission meeting, the developer essentially said, "Yeah, we're not that interested in what you want."

The Commission was not pleased. Neither are we.

First, there is the problem of not meeting the city's landscape requirement.

Second, there is a complete lack of effort to cooperate or compromise.

Third, their plan replaces one eyesore with another and fails to recognize the potential of the Great Streets project that will be conceptualized in the next six months.

If this proposal goes to our City Council as-is, they should respond, "Yeah, we're not that interested in what you want."